Chapter 20: “Ancient Overachiever”

“Mom, are these eggs from wild pheasants?” Zhang Yanzi asked, guessing.

As the saying goes: live off the mountain, live off the water.

Zhangjia Village was by the river, not the mountain.

So Zhang Yanzi had never seen a wild pheasant egg in her life.

“No way. Wild pheasant eggs are much smaller than these, and the shell is bluish. These are from domestic hens. Before you married in, Dahe picked some up twice already. Don’t believe me? Ask your eldest sister-in-law.”

Hearing her mother-in-law, Zhang Yanzi looked at Zhu Yingqiu, who nodded and said, “Yes, these are domestic chicken eggs. Wild pheasant eggs don’t look like this. Still, it’s strange—why would anyone hide eggs in the inner courtyard? Isn’t it risky? What if wolves show up? Aren’t lives more important than eggs?”

“Sister-in-law, you don’t get it. They hide eggs in the inner courtyard because no one dares to enter there! That’s why they’re not afraid of someone stealing them. Too bad they ran into our Fubao—no matter how good they are at hiding things, they can’t beat Fubao’s luck, right, Mom? Let’s just take the eggs. Whoever hid them, it’s ours now that we found them!”

Sun Pingmei’s eyes brightened at the sight of the eggs. She spoke while imagining whether to fry or boil them.

“This isn’t good. Eggs are valuable. They might have saved them for a long time. If we take them all…” Zhang Yanzi hesitated.

Beside her, Jiang Fubao pursed her lips.

Her mother was far too kindhearted, weren’t she?

Seriously, a secretly saintly type! She wouldn’t even take free eggs, always thinking of others.

This was a famine year! You couldn’t even eat your fill, and kindness didn’t help at all!

While Jiang Fubao rolled her eyes, Zhang Yanzi continued, “We shouldn’t take all of them. Let’s leave one for them, as a keepsake.”

Got it.

Not the same family, not the same household.

No wonder she married into the Jiang family.

Jiang Fubao breathed a sigh of relief.

She wasn’t afraid her family would do wrong; she feared they’d be too kind.

In this era, kindness meant waiting to be exploited.

“Fine, let’s leave one, so that next time the person comes and sees none left, they won’t get so angry as to hang themselves from a tree in frustration, descend to the underworld, and complain to the King of Hell. That would make us guilty of a grave crime. Second son’s wife, go get the basket and put the eggs in it.”

Zhang Jinlan agreed with her third daughter-in-law’s idea.

She instructed her second daughter-in-law.

Before long, all 239 eggs were packed into the basket.

Soft mugwort was laid at the bottom.

Another layer covered the top.

To prevent being seen descending the mountain, some dry branches were added on top.

A pound of eggs was about seven or eight eggs.

The basket weighed at least thirty pounds.

Yet Zhu Yingqiu carried it effortlessly, as if it were weightless.

Jiang Fubao was deeply impressed.

On the way down the mountain, she pretended to lag behind. Taking advantage of her family’s inattention, she quietly put the lone egg into her spatial pocket.

These eggs were bought with her own money, not for others or animals to use.

Jiang Fubao was used to poverty—small and miserly.

“Let’s go down the mountain. I counted earlier: 239 eggs, leaving 39 for Fubao and the children. There are a few left at home, enough for the kids—they’re still growing. The rest Dahe can sell in the town tomorrow.”

Zhang Jinlan’s single sentence decided the fate of the eggs.

They descended the mountain without encountering anyone.

But at the village entrance, they almost bumped into someone.

Looking closer, Zhang Jinlan froze.

It was her eldest son.

“Dahe? Why are you back so early? Didn’t your day labor end later?”

She glanced at the time—it wasn’t even noon.

The round trip to town should take at least three hours.

He must have stayed in town only half an hour before rushing home.

“Mom, it was too crowded today. The grain shop wasn’t hiring anymore. We checked other shops; they were all full. Many people didn’t even go home last night, sleeping on the streets with cloth bags. By the time we got there, it was already late. Work had already started.”

Jiang Dahe looked helpless.

No matter how early they left, they couldn’t beat those who slept on the streets.

And day labor included lunch; without work, they couldn’t even eat.

So they had to return home first.

Jiang Fubao felt a bit sorry for Dahe—he’d encountered ancient “overachievers”!

“What? Sleeping out there? These people risked their lives just to earn money! Though it’s spring, nights are still cold. Sleeping on the street for one night, even without catching a cold, the chill from the ground will seep in. They’ll get sick eventually, maybe shorten their lifespan. Chasing money without caring for life!”

Zhang Jinlan’s eyebrows shot up in shock.

“Mom, I’ll go cut some firewood; we don’t have much left at home.”

Jiang Dahe carried a bamboo basket with a small axe inside. He looked listless and didn’t smile, seemingly unwilling to discuss the matter. He lifted his feet to leave.

“Cutting firewood? Come inside first.” Zhang Jinlan grabbed him.

She wanted to mention the eggs in the basket but feared the villagers might overhear.

After all, walls have ears, and the eggs weren’t exactly honorable.

If the owners of the hidden eggs came looking, all the effort would be wasted, and they’d lose face.

She dragged her son inside, closing the gate after her granddaughter and daughters-in-law entered.

“Creak—”

The old wooden gate squeaked despite her care.

Zhang Jinlan fastened the latch.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” Jiang Dahe asked, puzzled.

So tense—could she have found treasure on the mountain?

“Look, what’s this?” Zhu Yingqiu set down the basket, removed the dry branches on top, and pushed aside the mugwort.

Eggs were revealed, one by one.

Zhang Jinlan pointed at the basket and looked at her eldest son.

“Mom, where did these eggs come from?”

Jiang Dahe was dumbfounded.

Even if there were treasures on the mountain, you couldn’t find chicken eggs!

These were big eggs, clearly from domestic hens.

Could Mom have stolen them?

He recalled her sneaky expression just now.

His heart skipped a beat.

“Mom, you didn’t get seen stealing eggs, did you?”

The question made Zhang Jinlan laugh with anger.

“Do you think I’m that wicked? Why would I steal? We picked these on the mountain! Ungrateful boy, I’ll smack you!”

She raised her hand and spanked Jiang Dahe twice.

“Ouch, Mom, I’m already grown! Why smack me? My grandson will see; where’s my face?”

Jiang Dahe’s ears turned red instantly.

He quickly glanced around.

Luckily, his two sons and brothers had gone back inside to rest.